There are two big concerns that people have about buying a house adjacent to a high-voltage power line, so let’s take them one at a time.

Increased cancer risk - Power lines emit a low-frequency EMF (electromagnetic field), which is considered relatively safe compared to high-frequency EMF, such as x-ray radiation. There were research studies done during the 1990s on the risk of exposure to power sources such as power lines, electrical substations, and home appliances; and, while some of the studies showed a possible link between exposure to a strong EMF field and increased risk of childhood leukemia, others did not, and the findings indicated that the correlation between low-frequency EMF exposure and childhood cancer was weak. Also, scientists could not find a mechanism by which the EMF exposure could cause cancer. So, barring some new development, power lines do not cause cancer. We are all bombarded daily with electromagnetic fields from home appliances, cell phones, wifi, radio, and even remote controls. The exposure from some appliances is even higher than power lines, but brief. Probably part of the problem with power lines is that they can look ominous, and there’s also the buzzing sound that’s noticeable when you are nearby.

Should I buy a house near a high-voltage power line?

6/4/17

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Reduced property value - They may not cause cancer, but high-voltage power lines are definitely ugly. Multiple studies of property values of homes within sight of big power lines shows a decreased value of the real estate of up to 10%, and averaging around half of that.

There is even one advantage to living near high-voltage transmission lines: lightning protection. The support tower and upper level of wires act as a lightning rod to protect homes in a wide radius from a lightning strike. At The Villages, Florida, where we live, the developer put golf courses and a nature preserve under a high-voltage power line that runs diagonally across the community, with landscaping, lakes, and meandering paths. Homes facing the power lines sell at a premium, but that is not the case elsewhere.

So, if you buy a home near a power line, it will not affect your health, but will likely impact your property value when you sell.